Hitchhiker ID please!

[fuxing1985]

Found my first hitchhiker one week cycle of my new reef tank. It is some kind of worm and shown in the middle of the picture below the snail. I wonder what it is and if it is a bad one.
Thanks!

 

[wes]

That's a polychaete bristle worm.

 

[wes]

Don't touch it with your bare hands because it has defensive bristles that stick in your skin. They hurt.

 

[Scampy]

+1 wes. Bristles are a hard working member of your clean up crew (CUC). Be sure to get some non-powdered latex gloves to avoid getting the bristles stuck in your fingers. If you do get some on you, try white vinegar, it will help disolve the bristles and take some of the itch away. I got some in my fingertips and it didnt bother me at all....then I got some in between my fingers and it was like poison ivy itchy. Also....if you overfeed like I did, your rocks may look like mine did.

 

[fuxing1985]

Thanks everyone!

 

[rainydave]

+1 wes. Bristles are a hard working member of your clean up crew (CUC). Be sure to get some non-powdered latex gloves to avoid getting the bristles stuck in your fingers. If you do get some on you, try white vinegar, it will help disolve the bristles and take some of the itch away. I got some in my fingertips and it didnt bother me at all....then I got some in between my fingers and it was like poison ivy itchy. Also....if you overfeed like I did, your rocks may look like mine did.

Wow...that is quite a bumper crop of bristle worms!

 

[user 26995]

LOL Scampy, thats awsome!

 

[Scampy]

Here's a pic of other rocks at the same time...


They are creepy at first but they grow on you :wink: After cutting feedings way back, they were almost gone in a few months.

 

[estoniangirl]

That IS creepy!!! Never liked them things!!! Especially after :Cry::Cry:getting stung by one

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

They are the creepiest of all worms! There bristles are chitin. I'm glad I haven't encountered these creepy fellows.

- C. Smith